Objective
The two project partners, the LIPU and the Province of Varese, have set themselves the objective of saving the bog and the habitats associated with it, from further deterioration. The two pairs of bittern and four pairs of white-eyed pochard habitually present on the site are the foremost priorities and, to protect them, poaching and illecit fishing will be tackled throughout the entire reserve, by beefing up surveillance, currently ensured by one full-time warden and 7 volunteers. The Province will contribute a system of seasonal surveillance (2 agents) to prevent wildfires in the areas covered by reeds, which are the breeding habitats for the bittern. To ensure the long-term preservation of the site, 140 hectares of peatland will be bought by the Province of Varese, parallel to the LIFE project. This will allow the exploitation of the area connected to the uncontrolled and haphazard peat digging, to be drastically reduced. About 4,000 people (school excursions, nature-lovers) visit the site annually, and to allow them to enjoy close-up panoramic views of the peatbog, a visitor reception and information centre equipped with binoculars and telescopes will be built, as well as a nature trail with camouflaged observation hides and cabins. The municipality of Inarzo will provide a reserve office. Altogether, this new infrastructure will be manned by 20 staff, volunteers and employees, and will act as lynchpin for the various activities which will be undertaken in the area (wardening, etc.). Didactic panels, brochures and thematic leaflets will be produced for local schools.
On a marshy terrain near the Lago of Varese are the remains of a fossil woodland, the 500 hectare peat bog labelled Palude Brabbia. Exploited for years as a source of peat, this bog, saturated with water, is one of the most important bird staging points along the trans-Alpine flyway. In this remnant swamp 32 species listed on Annex I of the Birds Directive are present including the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the white-eyed pochard (Aythya nyroca) on which the LIFE project focuses. The principal problems facing the Palude Brabbia are peat excavation, poaching, wildfires and the slow but inexorable terrestrialization of some of the open pools.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
43100 Parma
Italy